ACROSCOPIC: Those segments of the blade on the upper side of the pinna rachis, facing the apex of the frond

ADNATE: Fused, usually laterally, to an unlike structure, as blade to rachis

APOGAMY: The formation of a sporophyte from a gametophyte by asexual means such as budding, rather than by egg formation; also refereed to as apomitic although this term covers a broader meaning.

ARISTATE: Tapering to a narrow elongate apex or spike.

AURICULATE: Bearing one or two auricles

AURICLE: A low, basal lobe

BASISCOPIC: Those segments on the lower side of the pinnae rachis, facing the base of the frond.

BIPINNATE: Pinnae divided two times

BLADE: The expanded leafy portion of a frond not including the stipe.

BULBIL: An asexual bud occurring on the main or secondary rachis capable of forming a new plant before or after being detached from the parent.

CAUDATE: Bearing a narrow, elongate tail

CAUDEX: The central crown or upright rhizome of a fern.

CONGESTED: Rachis shortened so that the pinnules overlap like shingles on a roof; associated with dwarf forms. See IMBRICATE

CONNATE: Fused, usually laterally, to a similar structure, as one pinna to another

CRISPED: Having the margins waved or curled.

CRISTATE: When the pinnae or pinnules are divided into one or more terminal divisions from the normal form.

CREEPING: Extending horizontally in or on the soil

CRENATE: Shallowly scalloped, with rounded teeth

CROZIER: Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead.

CUSPIDATE: Rather abruptly constricted at the apex to a narrow, sharp-pointed tip

DELTATE: Broadly triangular with an obtuse apex

DEPAUPERATE: Having missing or defective parts; as in the linearis section

DIMORPHIC: Having two distinct shapes; in ferns this usually refers to sterile versus fertile blades or portions of blades.

ELLIPTIC: Having the outline of an elongate circle

ELONGATE: Much longer than wide

FALCATE: Sickle-shaped; curved and flat.

FARINA: A white, yellow, or other colored , waxy appearing exudates of glands; in ferns especially in the desert or xeric ferns.

FERTILE: Having sporangia and producing viable spores.

FIDDLEHEAD: Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead.

FIMBRIATE: Fringed; dissected into fine segments.

FROND: A fern leaf including the stipe and the blade.

GRANDICEPS: Having a much divided terminal crest; capitate.

IMBRICATE: Rachis shortened so that the pinnules nearly overlap one another; associated with dwarf forms

LACERATE: Deeply and irregularly cleft on the margin

LANCEOLATE: Shaped like a lance or spear-head, as of leaves tapering at both ends, much longer than broad, and wider below the middle.

LOBE: A portion of a balde, pinna, or pinnule, or segement, that is fully connate and with a shallow sinus on either side that extends no more thanhalf way from the lobe apex to the axis that the lobe is attached to

MARGINATE: Having a margin with a distinctive fringed or cut character.

OVATE: Having an oval shape

PERCRISTATE: All tips crested including the pinnules; crests on crests.

PINNA (Plural = PINNAE): Primary division of a compound blade.

PINNATE: Divided simply with the pinnae arranged on either side of the rachis.

PINNATIFID: Divided into lobes, with the clefts reaching halfway or more but not completely to the supporting rachis.

PINNULE: A division of a pinna; ultimate segment.

RACHIS: Midrib of a blade; continuation of the stipe through the blade.

RHIZOME: A dorsiventral stem of a root-like appearance which produces fronds above and roots below; usually creeping although in some ferns it forms a clump holding the fronds close together, and in others it is short, thick and upright; a caudex, producing a tufted appearance.

SCALE: A membranous chaffy hair found on the rhizome, stipe and occasionally on the blade surface.

SERRATE: Toothed; having margins notched like a saw.

SETOSE: Having bristly straight hairs

SORUS (Plural = SORI): Arrangement or cluster of spore cases.

SPORANGIUM (Plural = SPORANGIA): A small stalked capsule in which spores grow; the spore case.

SPORE: A minute asexual body.

STIPE: Leaf stalk of a fern excluding the leafy portion.

TRIPINNATE: Pinnae divided three times

VEIN: A strand of vascular tissue in a frond or part of a frond that conducts water and nutrients and strengthens the structure.

Fancy Fronds Nursery

Welcome to Fancy Fronds Nursery! We are a small family run business located in Gold Bar, Washington, specializing in garden ferns for all occasions and growing zones in the U.S. Our nursery is open year-round by appointment, and a wide selection of plants are available for spring and fall shipping. Find the fern that's right for you!